How can I check the authenticity of a payment notification email I received?

[YiannisM]

Dear all, 

I received a payment notification from someone for a sofa that I am selling. 

In the email I see an excess amount of £108 for shipping costs via Western Union and they are asking me to make the payment? Is that normal? 

I have not received any payments via paypal and I don't know if this is okay or if it is a scam.

Can anyone help?

[kernowlass · Accepted solution]

@YiannisM

SCAM.

They encourage you to accept a 'direct' Paypal payment and don't quibble on cost and may also say they can't view the item as they are disabled or working abroad etc etc but they will arrange a shipping agent to collect it.
No funds or activity of the transaction shows in your Paypal account and any emails 'may' go into your junk or spam folders.

You will get/got a "fake" email that looks as though it is from paypal.....it isn't because they don't actually have a Paypal account and have no intention of paying you.
It will say the buyer has paid ...you won't have been paid.

The 'fake' paypal email will tell you that the buyer has paid for the item + shipping costs but you must send those shipping costs to the courier/ shipping agent via western union, moneygram or walmart etc BEFORE the funds are released to you.
They are not interested in the item, they just want the western union etc funds and you will never see money in your paypal balance.

Paypal NEVER tell you to send an item before the payment is showing in your paypal account.
Paypal NEVER expect you to use a rival money transfer service eg Moneygram or Western Union etc.
Also their is no seller protection on paypal for any item that is collected by the buyer.
Delete any emails and ignore the scammers.

[YiannisM]

Thank you very much. 

This was most helpful. I saw the signs of the scam. They have my email and full name. Is it possible to use them for malicious reasons?

And is there a service I can report this event and the email address?

[kernowlass]

@YiannisM

If you totally ignore them then they will move on to the next victim.

You can't report them as none of the transaction would have been done using paypals site.

They use anonymous or throwaway email addresses and tend to work out of an internet cafe somewhere in Africa.

Glad you were not scammed.  

[YiannisM]

Once again, than you very much for your help

Very much appreciated. 

Kind regards,

Yiannis